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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The Really Awesome Vision Forum CD series

Our family had the wonderful opportunity this month to review the newly released audio CD album, Let Freedom Ring: The Philadelphia Faith and Freedom Tour. With 13 CDs' worth of messages by Doug Phillips and Bill Potter, we have listened to a "firehose" of American history from a Christian worldview, and we haven't even heard them all yet!

Topics include, but are not limited to:

The History of Quakers in America

The Life and Impact of William Penn

The Nation's Church: Christ's Church Meetinghouse and Graveyard

Carpenter's Hall: the Continental Congress is Formed

The First Bank of the United States

Architecture

The Brandywine Battlefield

Crossing the Delaware: Washington's Daring Winter Raid

The Legacy of John Witherspoon

Princeton Cemetery: Graveyard of Pastors, Patriots, and Presidents

Lessons from Valley Forge

Colonial Maritime Life Explored

Question and Answer Sessions

Jonathan:

It's been interesting to listen to the Let Freedom Ring CD series. In the introductory message, Mr. Phillips overviewed the tour goals and the historic themes that would be explored. I appreciated the balanced viewpoint that Mr. Phillips had regarding the Founding Fathers. We should not idolize them as perfect Christians but realize that there were destructive humanist influences in some of their worldviews. That said, many of the founders were devout Christians and almost all of them at least respected Christianity and had a basic Christian worldview.

Another part I liked about the series was the lectures on the Quaker sect and their beliefs. I had never heard what the Quakers actually were (or if I had, I had forgotten). While generally within Christian orthodoxy, they departed from it by stressing inner revelation over Scripture. Their church meeting was primarily not based on Scripture but rather on the messages of "inner light" from the members.

Another notable lecture was one on the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Phillips discussed some of the salient points of the document as well as giving biographies of some of the lesser-known signers.

Hannah:

I skipped ahead to hear the tour of the Princeton Cemetery, and it was quite an interesting presentation. Containing the graves of the likes of Jonathan and Sarah Edwards, Samuel Davies, John Witherspoon, the Aaron Burrs, president Grover Cleveland, and members of the Alexander and Hodge families, this location could definitely inspire awe. As someone present exclaimed, "This place is gonna blow [on resurrection day]!"

My interest was also piqued to hear about godly men with connections to Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley who were buried at this site, such as Archibald Alexander and William Graham. I will have to find more to read about their lives and involvements.

As the tour group gathered around the grave of Sarah Edwards, several men prayed especially for all of the young ladies in attendance, that they would be faithful to the Lord in much the same way that Sarah was, as a godly helpmeet, mother, and hospitable and influential Christian lady.

I'm sure the rest of the CDs will be enjoyable for more car-riding, treadmill-walking, or quilt square-cutting hours. :) It's almost as good as being there.

~And if you'll notice the ad on the right sidebar, if you purchase $95 worth of products from Vision Forumthrough April 1st, you will receive a $50 "Passport"--that would kind of be like getting this Faith and Freedom Tour albumfree!